Latest new posts from ALL categories of The Lawrence Times:
Lawrence news, state news, Community Voices, Lawrence Life, obituaries and more.
(Please note that opinion pieces are included in this list, marked as columns or letters to the Times. Not all posts linked on this page were written or produced by the Lawrence Times staff.)
Obituary: Mary Lucille Bailey
Mary Lucille Bailey, 12/12/1926 – 12/14/2021
KDHE reporting 10,000 Delta cases, two dozen Omicron cases of COVID-19 in Kansas
Testing in Kansas confirmed more than 10,000 cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 and 25 cases of the Omicron mutation, and public health reports showed more than 1,000 hospitalizations and 250 fatalities linked to the virus so far this month.
Sounds of explosions in Lawrence prompt many questions but few answers
Some residents of Lawrence have been rattled — figuratively and sometimes literally — by sounds of explosions recently.
Kaw Valley Almanac for Dec. 27, 2021-Jan. 2, 2022
This eastern gamagrass provides a native grass burst to mirror fireworks overhead as a way to bring in the new year. The calendar year is a human construct recognized by no other life forms, but happy new year anyway!
Governor’s task force outlines more than 120 ideas for improving equity, justice
The final report of Gov. Laura Kelly’s racial equity and justice task force calls for repeal of state laws disproportionately affecting families of color, health care reform, increased law enforcement training and more.
Burglary reported at Kansas Sampler in Lawrence
A window was shattered at Kansas Sampler in downtown Lawrence in a reported burglary on Christmas.
Delta, Omicron variants of COVID-19 slicing a wide swath into lives of Kansans
The extended COVID-19 pandemic is driving young health care workers away from the medical field and compelling experienced doctors and nurses to retire. Omicron is a reminder that it’s far from over.
Tom Harper: Updates to Bowersock Dam reveal remnants of the past, promise power for the future (Column)
In recent weeks, the Kaw River has been lowered at the Bowersock Dam. Ancient shoreline structures have been revealed and huge, deep expanses of shale, millions of years old, have been exposed.
Fire marshal to investigate blaze that destroyed home south of Lawrence city limits
The Kansas State Fire Marshal will investigate a blaze that left no one injured, but demolished a single-family home just south of Lawrence Tuesday afternoon.
Audit of Kansas foster care provider scrutinizes financial controls, IT costs, CEO travel, PPP loan
Former Saint Francis Ministries CEO Robert Smith exploited a lack of financial controls and board oversight to drain the nonprofit’s resources on an IT project and escalating management expenses that included use of taxpayer funds for personal travel, liquor and entertainment.
Ellen Bertels: Name Change Project simplifies a complex, emotional process for transgender Kansans (Column)
“In the long term, I hope to create a network of attorneys who can provide competent, affirming, and affordable services for low-income trans Kansans seeking all sorts of legal support,” Ellen Bertels writes in this column for Kansas Reflector.
Cases against Rontarus Washington Jr., Albert Wilson dismissed
The Douglas County district attorney has dismissed long-pending cases against Rontarus Washington Jr. and Albert Wilson, the office announced Wednesday.
Heartland Community Health Center announces Julie Branstrom as new CEO
Lawrence’s safety net clinic has selected an internal candidate, Julie Branstrom, as its new permanent CEO.
More than 200 new COVID-19 cases reported in Douglas County since Monday
Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health has received 210 reports of new COVID-19 cases since Monday, according to the department’s Wednesday update, bringing the total of known active cases to 908.
Free State High School teacher honored with Dedication to Education Award for ‘never giving up on students’
Erin McDaneld-Campbell, a Free State High School special education teacher, was selected to receive the 2021 Dedication to Education Award and the $5,000 check that goes with it.
Lawrence’s winter emergency shelter ‘in danger of closing’ without volunteer support, city says; paid positions available
The city’s winter emergency shelter is in dire need of volunteers to staff the Community Building on nights when the temperature drops below 35°. Part-time positions paying $18 per hour are also available.
Lawrence City Commission hits pause on plan for turf soccer fields
The Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday deferred plans to join forces with a local soccer club to build artificial turf fields in town over concerns that the club wanted some exclusivity built into the agreement.
City Play Corps: Pop Up Play Shop opens in downtown Lawrence (Announcement)
“The City Play Corps, a nonprofit organization that promotes the practice of true play for kids, has opened up a temporary storefront dedicated to letting kids be kids by making their own fun,” the group writes in this announcement.
Lobbyists form contractor alliance to seek $315 million for university building repair backlog
A fledgling association of construction contractors led by two political lobbyists is developing a plan to persuade the Kansas Legislature to make an unprecedented seven-year, $315 million investment to shrink the academic building repair backlog at the state’s six public universities.
The Raven Book Store’s bestsellers for 2021 (Sponsored post)
“We are pleased to present the Raven’s bestsellers of 2021! I must say, it’s an incredible list.”
Tax council testimony: Kansas sales tax burden creates regressive system
Nearly 38% of Kansas’ tax revenue comes from sales taxes, according to Donna Ginther, director of the Institute for Policy and Social Research at KU.
Lawrence school board vets ideas to fill multimillion-dollar budget gap
Many questions and few answers came out of the Lawrence school board’s review of potential cost-savings ideas Monday during a special meeting to discuss the district’s budget deficit.
Evergy proposes energy efficiency programs designed to save customers $42M
Evergy customers in Kansas could soon get discounts and rebates to upgrade their homes to be more energy efficient.
Interim chief of Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical shares plans for his tenure
Tom Fagan, new interim chief of Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, said he’s honored and excited to “serve our great community and responders in this new manner while the executive search is underway.”